Although there are crimes and harm done to many, few see the root cause of most wrong-doing. The sin of coveting, or not being content with what one has, rears its ugly scowl on a daily basis. It is often the driving force in:
- Adultery — Someone is not happy with their choice in spouses, and wants a mate another has.
- Arguments – Sometimes folks are not content with others’ opinions of them, so they try to raise opinions of themselves by displaying a different intellect or personality
- Cheating – One wants grades they do not have, without working for them.
- Lies – To make others think better of them, countless lies have been told.
- Hoarding — In order to fill a spiritual hole in one’s life, many try to fill it with the “security” of things.
- Murders — Many have been killed for another’s possessions.
- Robberies — Someone wanted something he did not have but would not work for it.
- Sexual crimes are often committed to get what they do not have without waiting for the right mate or to get the power over a person they do not have.
- Taxes – To get others’ money from them without working for it, countless millions have been taxed.
- Wars — Many wars have been started so others could obtain what another country had.
- On and on the list could go of activities and problems spurned by the sin of coveting …
Coveting is sin no matter what is desired, be it money, fame, clothing, toys, houses, bicycles, or education. It is the breaking of God’s command.
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.” Ex. 20:17 Also: Deuteronomy 5:21, Romans 13:9
Although the grievous grasp of the sin of coveting has always been a temptation, it is very enticing today. The whole television industry is funded by ads feeding on man’s weakness of wanting more. Stores line most streets displaying wares that are “new, improved, and better.” Advertising works very hard to magnify one’s discontent with what they have; so that others will purchase the newest item. On and on the temptations rage, pulling one in the direction of this “tolerated” sin.
Like any other sin, coveting is not acceptable in God’s eyes. That is why God commands us to abstain from it. He wants us far from this sin, not because He wants to deny our having the pleasures of life, but because they often lead to an unsustainable appetite and lust that can never be satisfied.
The only way one can achieve victory over this sin is to first admit to God that it is sin. He knows it is, but God wants us to humbly admit our shortcomings and disobedience to Him. Discontentment is saying indirectly that we are not happy with what God has allowed us to have. Secondly, be content with what you have, and you will be happier. Be truly thankful for what you have, and thank the Lord for His allowing you to obtain it. Perhaps, this is why the scripture has far more verses on being thankful and giving praise than it does on getting the things of this world.
There are times when new things are needed; and God certainly does not want us to live in purposeful poverty when He can provide for our needs. However, He does not want us to be led by lusts that can never be satisfied. Be happy with what you have.
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Philippians 4:11
“And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” I Timothy 6:8
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5
“The man who covets is always poor.” — Claudian
I’m suffering lately from something that’s causing me a lot of pain. I’ve prayed about it a lot, asking God to relieve me of this suffering and heartache and make something useful out of it that gives glory to God. Suddenly this morning I realized that perhaps I’m breaking the Tenth Commandment to not covet. But I’m not sure of that’s the case. My wife and I really wanted a daughter but were instead blessed with three boys. Years later now, I’m finding that I feel heartache when I see others with their beautiful daughters, because I know that I’ll never know the joy of having a daughter. It’s very painful. Is it coveting, to have such pain? Am I breaking the Tenth Commandment?
I certainly cannot know another’s heart. That is something only you can know; if it is coveting. But, sometimes our expectations, and a little dab of guilt, falsely convict us. When I am not sure of the condition of my heart, I tell the Father that I am not sure if I am sinning and could He make it clear to me so I can confess it.
But, the root of covetous is usually discontentment. If we have prayed over a situation, and you certainly have, and He has answered other prayer requests, we must often accept our current situation as God’s will for us at the time. Perhaps, your desire is not God’s plan. It may change later, however.
There are many couples that would love to have children and cannot. God has blessed you with three. Wonderful. God knows each person best. He may have decided that you folks are best suited to raise boys, not everyone is. When those boys grow up and marry, you will have three new daughters in your family (all grown up and you will not have to face the girl’s teenage years — yippee :>) )
The important thing is to accept what God has done for us. If He has answered many prayers in the past, we know He hears us. Your family situation may be a little different than you have planned, but Father always knows best. :>)
I do not believe there is just one of us who have not covented what another has at one time or another as i know in the past i have .
I remember a statement attributed to one of the Rockefellers that went something like this: When asked, “How much money is enough?”, the reply was, “Just a little bit more.” This pretty well describes our world today. People are so consumed with what they think they need to have that they don’t take notice of the multiplied blessings they already have from God. Counting our blessings is a much better use of out time than coveting things we don’t have. Phil. 4:19 says it all: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
I once heard a preacher remark…”Covetousness is the most acceptable sin in the Christian world”. So much so, that it takes something very specific like this devotion to get us to see it. We have glossed over this so much that our conscience has been seared toward it.
Thank you brother for pulling off the scales from my eyes.